HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 12-01-2008 - 3aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: December 1, 2008
Action Agenda
Item No. ~ -Q
SUBJECT: Introduction of First Piedmont Laureate
DEPARTMENT: Orange County Arts PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
Commission
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Martha Shannon, 245-2335
PURPOSE: To 1) introduce the first Piedmont Laureate, Orange County Poet Jaki Shelton
Green, 2) thank the Board of County Commissioners for helping to make this program possible,
and 3) provide Ms. Green the opportunity to read a poem to welcome the new members of the
Board of County Commissioners.
BACKGROUND: The Piedmont Laureate Program is the first project co-sponsored by the four
arts councils/commissions in the Triangle area (Orange County Arts Commission, City of
Raleigh Arts Commission, Durham Arts Council, and United Arts of Raleigh and Wake County).
This program's primary goal is to promote awareness and heighten appreciation for excellence
in the literary arts throughout the Piedmont region. The Piedmont Laureate is contracted for 20
events (such as readings and/or workshops at public sites) and up to five media appearances
throughout Orange, Durham and Wake counties during the period of November 10, 2008
through December 31, 2009.
The application process was open to all writers residing in Wake, Durham or-,Orange counties
who met the guideline criteria. For the 2008-2009 cycle, applications were accepted from poets.
Eighteen entries were received. The selection committee was comprised of noted poet and
editor Dr. Sally Buckner, Dr. Anjail Rashida Ahmad (Director of NC A&T's Creative Writing
Program), Richard Krawiec (novelist, poet, and director of Voices), and Banu Valladares (North
Carolina Arts Council). Upon review of all applications, two finalists were invited to interview.
Mebane poet Jaki Shelton Green was announced as the first Piedmont Laureate on November
15, 2008 at the NC Writers Network Conference in the Research Triangle Park.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funding in the amount of $1,250 was included in the FY2008-09 County
budget to serve as Orange County's portion of the $5,000 honorarium for the Piedmont
Laureate.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board recognize Jaki Shelton Green
as the first Piedmont Laureate and hear Ms. Green's poem welcoming the new members of the
Board of County Commissioners.